Johnson had never lost a game after being staked to a four-run lead, and yet what seemed most alarming, at least to professional observers, was his docile demeanor.

“The thing that shocked me,” says an American League scout, “was that Randy just kind of hung his head when he was getting lit up. They were digging in, looking for his slider, hitting everything hard, and he never came up and in on them and knocked somebody down.

“From a pitching standpoint, I just think it was one of those nights. But the thing is, his slider is his out pitch now, and I think he needs to start putting some fear in hitters with his fastball, to let them know they might pay a price for diving in on his slider. He needs to get a little meaner.”

Funny, I must be an AL Scout – because I was thinking the same exact thing as I was watching that game in Toronto.

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Even if mechanics dictate his ability to throw strikes inside, Johnson surely would be more effective if he’d send batters sprawling or even drill them, a la Clemens.

Stottlemyre said that based on Johnson’s reputation when he became a Yankee, he expected to see more of that type of pitching.

“He probably does not do that enough,” Stottlemyre said. “I’m not trying to be a coach now, just an observer.

“I think that’s something the Yankees expected, that he’d be more intimidating. I think a lot of it has to do with command. But sometimes it’s better to take a chance on hitting someone, so that you don’t get hit.”

Guidry was asked if he reminded Johnson of the need to pitch that way.

“I try,” Guidry said with a smile.

Do they have any of those shirts left over from last year that said “There is no trying. There is only doing or not doing”?

So much for Johnson needing to hit people or knock them off their feet to win (a cliche suggestion that comes up every time a pitcher struggles). Eight innings today, three hits (all to the same guy; one hit a home run).